Multiple unit liquid dispenser



Feb. 4, 1964 1-. E. NOAKES MULTIPLE UNIT LIQUID DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Sept. 12, 1960 arrests Patented Feb. 4, 1954 3,120,329 MULTIPLEUNIT LIQUID DHSPENSER Thomas E. Noalres, Detroit, Mich assignor toAmerican- Radiator & dtandard Sanitary Corp, New York, N.Y., acorporatien of Delaware Filed Sept. 12, 19%, Ser. No. 55,538 2 Claims.(61. 222373) This invention relates to mechanism for dispensing liquidadditives into washing machines.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a dispenser structure having aseries of liquid storage reservoirs into which the housewife mayperiodically (e.g. once a week) charge different liquid additives suchas liquid detergent, bleach, rinse conditioner, dye, or liquid starch.The number of storage reservoirs corresponds with the number ofdilferent type additives to be handled by the dispenser, is. there isone storage reservoir for each different additive.

Each reservoir is provided with a metering chamber and a manuallyoperable control means for admitting selected quantities of liquidadditive from the reservoir into the metering chamber. Each meteringchamber is provided with a discharge conduit which communicates with thedrum or tub of the washing machine, and each discharge conduit isprovided with an electrically-operated means for selecting the instantin the machine cycle at which the liquid is delivered to the drum orbasket. In this connection it will be understood that in a multi-liquidsystem as proposed herein, it is desirable that the different liquids bepumped into the machine at various different times in the washingmachine cycle.

One object of the invention is to provide a multi-liquid dispenser ofthe above type wherein the housewife may manually select the quantity ofeach liquid additive at the time she loads the machine with articles,and wherein the dispenser automatically delivers the selected liquidquantities at the proper periods in the machine cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid dispenser whichmay be utilized as an add on feature with conventional washing machines,the arrangement being such as to permit the manufacturer to offer thedispenser as optional equipment without substantial redesign of itswashing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which may bemounted in a position on the machine suitable for convenient access bythe housewife for liquid charging purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which may bereadily cleaned when necessary.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a dispenser whichmay be constructed to blend with the styling of various different makesof washing machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which canhandle a plurality of dilferent liquid additives but which has a fairlylow manufacturing cost.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional clothes washing machinehaving a dispenser of the present invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded rear perspective view of the FIG. 1arrangement.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 inFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of an electrical control meansutilized in the FIG. 2 construction.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the FIG. 4 control means.

FIG. 6 is a view of a conventional washing machine and a conventionalclothes dryer located one above the other, with a dispenser of thepresent invention positioned therebetween.

Before explaining the present invention in detail it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown aconventional clothes washing machine 10 having the conventional splashback or console portion 12 extending upwardly from its top 14 adjacentthe rear thereof. Detachably positioned on the upper wall 16 of thesplash back portion 12 is a dispenser 18 of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 1 the dispenser is constructed as a horizontally elongatedcasing structure extending substantially the full width of the washingmachine 10 so as to blend with the styling thereof.

The illustrated dispenser casing is defined by a bottom wall 24, and twoopposed end walls 26 and 28, a back wall 30, a front wall 32, and a topwall 34. Disposed above bottom wall 24 is an intermediate wall 36 whichextends from end wall 26 to a vertical partition 38. The area aboveintermediate wall 36 is partitioned by two vertical partitions 4t) and42, the three spaces thus formed constituting liquid reservoirsdesignated by the numerals 41, 43 and 45. The dispenser casing isprovided with a top access opening 47 which is normally closed by ahinged lid or cover 49, said lid being pivotally mounted on the casing,as by means of pivot pins 50. By raising the lid the housewife securesaccess to the various liquid reservoirs 41, 43 and 45.

In the illustrated embodiment each liquid reservoir is provided withwall structure therebelow serving to define a metering chamber. In thedrawings the various metering chambers for the respective reservoirs aredesignated by numerals 51, 53 and 55. Each of the metering chambers areof similar construction, and a description of one will sufiice for adescription of all. As shown in FIG. 3 metering chamber 53 is defined bya lower portion of the housing front wall 32, a forwardly sloping wallportion 48, and a rear wall portion 48m. The aforementioned intermediateWall 36 constitutes the top wall of the metering chamber, and it issuitably configured to define a port 52 for admitting liquid fromreservoir 43 to the metering chamber 53 by gravity fiow. Control of theliquid flow through the port is effected by a poppet valve 54 which isafiixed to a slidable stem 56. A suitable seal is provided at 58 to sealthe joint between the stem and front wall 32.

Stem 56 is carried on a manually actuable push button 69. The front wall32 is providedwith a tubular guide extension 57, and push button 69 isprovided with a mating telescoping tubular portion 59, the arrangementbeing such that push button 60 can be constructed as a relatively largeeasily operated device with the mating portions 57 and 59 acting toadequately guide the push button in its movement. A compression spring61 is disposed between wall 32 and button 66 so that when the manualpressure is released the valve 54 is ensured of automatically moving toits closed position.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that a portion of the front wall 32adjacent each button 60 is cut out to accommodate a transparent viewingwindow 63. The wall area adjacent each viewing window is provided withsuitable graduations 65 to indicate quantity of liquid in the respectivemetering chamber at any one time. By this arrangement the housewife candepress the push button at and simultaneously View the liquid level asit rises in the metering chamber. When a suitable liquid level isreached in the metering chamber she can release button 69 to allowspring 61 to automatically close the valve and thereby trap a selectedquantity of liquid in the chamber. It will be understood that each ofthe various push buttons 6%? can be actuated independently at thebeginning of the machine cycle so that each of the metering chambers canbe filled to the desired level. The selected level may of course bedifferent in each metering chamber in accordance with the character ofthe wash load and the type of additive being handled by the respectivechamber.

Under the present invention an electrically-operated control mechanismis provided to automatically control the time at which the liquid isdelivered from each metering chamber into the washing machine. Theelectrical control mechanism of the illustrated embodiment is indicatedgenerally by numeral '70 in FIG. 2, and the details thereof are shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 4 the control means comprises anelectrically-operated air pump indicated generally by numeral 76 and anelectrically operated valve means indicated generally by numeral 78. Thegeneral arrangement is such that pump 76 may be energized to heat 21contained body of air so as to build up internal air pressure, andselected ones of the valves in the valve means 78 may be energized todirect the built-up air pressure to the spaces above the liquids in thepreviously mentioned metering chambers. The built up air pressure isthus utilized to pump the liquid from the metering chambers intosuitable conduits which discharge the liquids into the washing machine.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 4, the pump means 76 comprises acup-like housing element 86, and an overlying cover portion 82, thejuncture therebetween being occupied by a suitable annular gasket 84.Suitable clips 86 are utilized to secure elements 80 and 82 together,the arrangement being such that a sealed chamber 88 is defined by thetwo cooperating housing elements. Positioned within chamber 88 is anelectrical heater 94 which may comprise a plurality of turns ofresistance wire trained on a suitable framework 92. The framework may besupported by a plurality of metallic brackets 87 and 39 seated on thebottom wall of housing element 8%). Suitable rivets 85 may be utilizedto mount the brackets and electrically interconnect same to thespade-type terminals S1 and 83.

Bracket 87 is electrically connected with an insulated lead '79 whichextends upwardly and then laterally to connection with a bimetal leaf 91forming part of a thermostatic cut-out switch. The other connection forthe switch is through an insulated lead 95 which extends down to aterminal 97 for the heater 90. The other terminal for the heater isformed by bracket 89.

The bimetal leaf 91 is arranged so that as the air temperature inchamber 88 rises (due to the action of the heater) the bimetal isdeformed to break the electrical path from lead 79 to lead 95, thusde-energizing the heater. By this action the hen er is caused to providea pulsing air pump action for thereby delivering relatively largequantities of liquid without requiring an excessively large capacity airspace pressure development.

The sequence is such that in an illustrative cycle the heater isenergized to pump a liquid pulse from chamber 53 (by heating the air inchamber 88), after which the heater is de-energized by switch leaf 91 toallow the air to cool and draw additional air into the system throughtube 133 (FIG. 3) and the liquid in chamber 53, after which the leaf 91cools to again energize the heater for pumping an additional pulse ofliquid through tube 133. By thus pulsing the heater the entire liquidcontents of chamber 53 can be discharged through tube the The pulsingaction is of course automatic as long 3 current is supplied to terminal31 (which is preferaoly under the control of the Washing machine timer).

Referring now to valve means '78 (FIG. 4), the cover element is providedwith three separate vertical passage sections 82a, 82b and 32c, one foreach of the previously mentioned metering chambers 51, 53, 55. Flow ofpressurized air in each passage section is controlled by a separateelectrical valve arrangement, and since the valve arrangements aresimilar, a description of one will sufiice for a description of all.

The valve arrangement for passage section 82b comprises an annularrubber valve seat element 96 seated in a recess in element 82. Thecentral opening through element 9-6 registers with the armature-plunger98 of a conventional solenoid 163. In order to prevent loss of airpressure there is arranged above element 96 cover element 102, having aperipheral flange portion located on an annular gasket Hi4. Element 102is suitably mounted on the main cover element 82 by an annular clampelement 1%, suitable screws 103 (FIG. 5) being provided to hold theclamp element and solenoid cover in their illustrated positions.

An upward projecting tubular extension 110 on element 162 acts as aguide for the armature-plunger 93 and as a seat for the compressionspring 112. The arrangement of parts is such that when the coil ofsolenoid 103 is energized the armature-plunger 93 is drawn upwardly inthe guide portion 1113 so as to open passage 82b to the superjacentspace 109. In this manner the air pressure deveioped by energization ofheat wire is transmitted to the space 169. A passage section 114 extendsdown wardly from space 1139 to a laterally extending passage 115, saidlateral passage in turn communicating with an upwardly directed passage118. As shown in FIG. 4 the passage structure may be suitably formed bymeans of an insert 129 and gasket 122.

Passage 118 is formed within a tubular extension 124 formed on cover 82.As best shown in FIG. 4 this tubular extension mounts one end of arubber hose 123. As

est seen in FIG. 2 hose 123 extends away from control means 70, throughan opening 126 in a partition 138, and thence into connection with ahollow extension projecting from the bottom wall 43 of the meteringchamber 53. As shown in FIG. 3 the hollow extension is continuedupwardly within the metering chamber, as at 130, so that the airpressure which is developed in chamber 88 (FIG. 4) may be transmitted tothe upper portion of the metering chamber. This air pressure may thenact against the liquid Within the metering chamber to pump same into atube 132. In the illustrated embodiment, tube 132 is mounted on atubular extension of the metering chamber backwall 480. This extensionis projected to the back side of wall 48a so as to mount a second tube133.

As best shown in FIG. 2 tube 133 extends downwardly and longitudinallyof the dispenser easing into connection with the casing bottom wall 24so as to be capable of discharging liquid out of the dispenser. When thedispenser is installed on the washing machine the discharge end of tube133 registers with a suitable funnel means 143, said funnel means beingconnected with a conduit means 144 leading to the tub or drum of themachine (not shown). By such an arrangement liquid may be conveyed frommetering chamber 53 to the tub or drum of the Washing machine whencontrol means 70 is energized.

The described type of control for the discharge from chamber 43 is alsoutilized for chambers 41 and 45. Thus, with respect to chamber 41,solenoid 101 operates as solenoid 103, line 121 functions as line 123,line 131 functions as line 133, and funnel means 14-1 functions asfunnel means 143. Similarly, chamber 45 is provided with the controlcomponents indicated generally by numerals 105, 125, 135, and 14-5.

It will be understood that liquids will be dispensed from the variousdispensing chambers at different times in the operational cycle of themachine, and that the machine timer can be utilized to program signalsto the dispenser controls. In conventional washing machines the timersequentially operates switches in the electrical lines which energizethe various different motors and electrical valves in the washingmachine proper. The present invention is not concerned with theparticular type of timer mechanism employed within the machine propersince whatever timer construction is employed the same may be utilizedto control the supply of current for heater 90 and the three solenoids101, 103 and 105. The timer may be utilized for this purpose byconnecting selected ones of the timer switches with the terminals in afemale electrical receptacle 140 (FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 2 receptacle140 may be mounted on wall 16 of the machine so that when the dispenser18 is installed on the machine the electrical spade-type contacts 149,150, 151 and 152 extend into the receptacle openings so as toelectrically connect with leads to the timer switches (not shown).

The various contacts may be suitably connected with leads which extendwithin a cable 154 leading up to terminal board 156. As shown in FIG. 2the terminals on the board mount short leads which feed current to thevarious solenoids. Certain of the terminals may also be used to feedcurrent to heater 90. It will be understood that the heater is connectedwith the common terminal on the board so that the heater is energizedwhenever any one of the solenoids is energized. The solenoids areenergized at different periods in accordance with the timer program.

The features of the invention can be utilized in the dispensing ofvarious liquid additives, and the showing of a three liquid system is ofcourse illustrative. Whatever the number of additives to be dispensed,at periodic intervals, it may be necessary to clean the liqiudreservoirs of encrusted additive accumulations. With the illustratedapparatus such clean out operations can be accomplished by merelyremoving the dispenser casing 18 from its position atop the splash backportion 12 and submerge the entire assembly in a suitable cleaningsolution. During such clean out operations a certain amount of thecleaning water may be introduced into various ones of the tubes 131, 133or 135. However, such water is not harmful to the dispenser parts sincethe electrical components thereof are sealed within the casing andisolated from water contact. The dispenser 18 may be removably mountedon the washing machine by any suitable mechanism, but as shown in thedrawings, the mounting means includes two slot-forming brackets 160suitably secured to the machine back wall, and two extensions 161projecting downwardly from the dispenser casing backwall 313.

It will be seen that with the illustrated arrangement the general designof the machine casing is substantially unaffected, the only modificationthereof being the openings for mounting the electrical receptacle 140and three funnels 141, 143 and 145. Suitable leads must of course beconnected to receptacle 140, as during manufacture of the machine, andsuitable tubes must be extended from the liquid-receiving funnels todirect the liquid into the washing machine tub or drum.

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the metering chambers arelocated below their respective reservoirs so that liquid is conductedinto the metering chambers by a gravity flow. Certain liquids have aviscosity characteristic which tends to cause plugging of small orificesand interference with gravity flow. When such high viscosity liquids areutilized the liquid flow may be effected by small pumps (not shown) inwhich case the metering chambers can be located above the storagereservoirs if desired.

FIG. 1 illustrates the dispenser as located on the rear portion of thewashing machine.

FIG. 6 illustrates an arrangement wherein the dispenser may beoperatively mounted between the conventional washing machine 170 and theconventional clothes dryer 172. As shown in FIG. 6 the clothes dryer andclothes washer are mounted in stacked relationship, with a boxlikeinsert 174 arranged therebetween. This box-like insert is a conventionalconstruction, and the present invention is not concerned with theprovision of such an insert. The present invention as embodied in theFIG. 6 construction is directed to the disposition of the dispenser as abin-like structure tiltably mounted within insert 174.

The tilting feature may be accomplished by suitably configuring thefront wall of insert 174 to define an up wardly facing notch or groove,and providing a knife edge strip 176 on the lower wall of the dispenser18. A suitable handle 178 may be mounted on the front wall of thedispenser to tilt the dispenser out from the insert 174. The purpose inthe tilting feature is of course to enable the housewife to gain accessto the dispenser reservoirs for charging thereof with liquid, and toremove the dispenser for cleaning. The electrical connections may becompleted and separated as necessary by employing a flexible cable andfixed receptacle as shown at 180 and 182. If desired the dispenser maybe mounted to slide rectilinearly into and out of the insert in themanner of a drawer.

The drawings and description herein are intended to be illustrative ofthe invention, and modifications may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In 'a washing machine having a splash panel with a horizontallydisposed top and an inlet thereon that is fluid flow connected with thetub of the machine,

the improvement of a dispenser for liquid, positioned on thehorizontally disposed top of the machine,

said dispenser including a casing defining an upper reservoir and alower metering chamber,

a conduit connecting said reservoir and said metering chamber in liquidflow relation,

normally closed valve means in said conduit to admit variable quantitiesof liquid to said metering chamber from said reservoir,

a discharge port in said metering chamber and positioned above thenormal liquid level of said metering chamber,

a first conduit extending from said discharge port to the bottom of saidmetering chamber,

a second conduit extending from said discharge port to the inlet of thehorizontal top of the washing machine,

and means for forcing liquid through said first conduit and saiddischarge port of said metering chamber and through said second conduitinto the inlet of the washing machine.

2. In a dispenser for liquid,

a unitary casing having an integral wall intermediate the bottom and topto divide the casing into an upper reservoir and a lower meteringchamber,

said wall completely separating said reservoir and metering chamber fromone another vertically,

a port in said wall for gravity flow of liquid from said reservoir tosaid metering chamber,

valve means operable in said port,

said metering chamber having a slanting bottom defining a lowermostportion,

a discharge port in said metering chamber and positioned above thenormal liquid level of the metering chamber,

a conduit connected to said discharge port and extending to thelowermost part of said metering chamber,

and a gas inlet extending through the bottom of said metering chamberand terminating above said discharge port.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS524,900 James Aug. 21, 1894 1,785,097 Raymond Dec. 16, 1930 (Utherreferences on following page) 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS Sweetland May 22,1934 Rosenberg Sept. 24, 1935 Parson May 25, 1943 Baak May 24, 1949Hanks Aug. 29, 1950 8 Erlanger Aug. 4, 1953 Martiniak Jan. 6, 1959 BloomFeb. 3, 1959 Rosander May 19, 1959 Brucken July 26, 1960 Marchi Jan. 22,1963

2. IN A DISPENSER FOR LIQUID, A UNITARY CASING HAVING AN INTEGRAL WALLINTERMEDIATE THE BOTTOM AND TOP TO DIVIDE THE CASING INTO AN UPPERRESERVOIR AND A LOWER METERING CHAMBER, SAID WALL COMPLETELY SEPARATINGSAID RESERVOIR AND METERING CHAMBER FROM ONE ANOTHER VERTICALLY, A PORTIN SAID WALL FOR GRAVITY FLOW OF LIQUID FROM SAID RESERVOIR TO SAIDMETERING CHAMBER, VALVE MEANS OPERABLE IN SAID PORT, SAID METERINGCHAMBER HAVING A SLANTING BOTTOM DEFINING A LOWERMOST PORTION, ADISCHARGE PORT IN SAID METERING CHAMBER AND POSITIONED ABOVE THE NORMALLIQUID LEVEL OF THE METERING CHAMBER, A CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAIDDISCHARGE PORT AND EXTENDING TO THE LOWERMOST PART OF SAID METERINGCHAMBER, AND A GAS INLET EXTENDING THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF SAID METERINGCHAMBER AND TERMINATING ABOVE SAID DISCHARGE PORT.